Earth-excavating machine.



J. H. LUBTHJE.

BARTH EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. so, 1909.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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J. H. LUETHJE. BARTH BxoAv'mNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION I'ILBD MAB. 30, 1909.-

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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J. H. LUETHJE. BARTH BXGAVATING MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED MAR 30, 1909. 988,883, Patented Apr.4, 1911.

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J. H. LUETHJE. EARTH B XCAVATING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. so, 1909.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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J. H. LUETHJE. A

EARTH BXOAVATING MAUHINE. APPLIoATroN FILED 111.11.30, 1909.

988,883. Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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A 5 nmnuuum J. H. LUBTHJE.

EARTH BXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION rILED 11.111. 3o, 11109.`

Patented Apf.4, 1911.

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J. H. LUBTHJE.

EARTH BXOAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 30, 1901).

Patented Apr.4, 1911.

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J. H. LUETHJE.

EARTH BXOAVATING MAoHINB.

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J. H. LUETHJE.

EARTH EXGAVATING MAGHINE.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED m1111430. 1909.

988,883. Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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JOHN H. LUETHJE, 0F DES MOINES, IOWA.

EARTH-EXCAVATING MACHINE.

Specifcatonof Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed March 30, 1909. Serial No. 487,342.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. LUETHJE, a

citizen of the United States of America, and.

resident of Des Moines, Polk county, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Earth-Excavating Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for cutting, elevating and loading earth.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for adjusting the depth of a cut made by the machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for conveying elevated earth to a vehicle by which it may be transported.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for cutting slices of earth from a bank.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for excavating one portion of a given width of cut or trench at one advance of the machine and then reversing the machine and excavating the remaining poi'- 'tion of the cut or trench in a return travel of the machine.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, partly in section. Fig. 2 is an opposite side elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a fiont elevation of the machine, the tongue or pole being removed. Fig. 4 is a plan of the machine. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of a part of the machine. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the machine on the indicated line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail rear elevation of parts of the machine, illustrating means eniployed to raise and lower a conveyer. Figs. S and 9 are a front view and plan respectively of the cutting devices and the means for support-ing and driving the same. Fig. 10 is a perspective, of one of the elevator buckets and rods and links supporting the same. Fig. 11 is a cross-section of parts of the machine looking toward the front. Fig. 12 is a detail plan of parts of the lateral conveyer.

In the construction of the machine as shown the numeral 10 designates an axle shaft supported at its ends and journaled in wheels 11, 12. Supporting arms 13 are journaled to and supported on and rise from the shaft 10 and side bars 14, 15 are arranged in pairs and are pivoted at their rear ends at different altitudes to and extend forward horizontally from said arms.

A front frame is provided and is constructed of horizontal beams 16, 17, end posts 18, 19, interior posts 20, 21, horizontal bars 22, 23 and oblique braces 24, all rigidly connected. (See Fig. 3.

A rear frame is provi ed, (Fig. 5) and is constructed of horizontal beams 25, 26, end posts 27, 28, interior posts 29, 30, horizontal bars 31, 32, and oblique braces 34, all rigidly connected.

The forward end portions of the side bars 14, 15 are pivoted to the end posts 18, 19 of the front frame and the body portions of said side bars are slidingly confined by keepers 36, 37 mounted vertically on the end posts 27, 28 of the rear frame. The posts of the front frame are joined rigidly to the posts of the rear frame by horizontal bars 38 and oblique braces 39.

A tongue frame 40 is fixed to the lower end portions of the end posts 18, 19 of the front frame and is adjustably connected to the upper ends of said front posts by braces 41, 42 adjustable as to length in any common manner, such as by turnbuckles 43.

Bearings 44, 45 are swiveled on and extend laterally from the central portions of the end posts 27, 28 of the rear frame and rods 46, 47 are pivoted at their rear (lower) ends to the upper corners of the axle arms 13 and extend obliquely through said bearings. The upper (forward) ends of the rods 46, 47 are threaded and gear nuts 48, 49 are screwed thereon beneath and in engagement with the bearings 44, 45.

A shaft 50 is journaled in bearings on and extends horizontally across the rear frame of the machine, and gears 51, 52 on said shaft mesh with the gear nuts 48, 49. The shaft 50 may be rotated at times in any desired manner, such as by a crank shaft 53 carrying a bevel gear 53u meshing with a bevel gear 53b thereon, in oider that the gear nuts, 48,49 be rotated and the threaded rods 46, 47 be raised or lowered as required to raise or lower the rear frame of the machine relative to the axle 10.

The tongue frame 40 maybe connected at its forward end by a clevis 40a to a traction engine (not shown) whereby any vertical adjustment of the frame relative to the axle articulates on Such connection and effects a raising or lowering of all the mechanism carried by the frame.

A power shaft 54 is ournaled in bearings 55 carried by the posts of the front frame and eXtends horizontally across said frame. The power shaft 54 is provided with a pulley 56 adapted to be driven by gearing from the traction engine (not shown).

A drum shaft 5.7 isjournalied bearings 58 on. the interior posts 20, 21 .of the front frame and is arranged above and paralleli .with the power shaft 54.

A conveyer frame 59l is mounted between and fixed to. the posts 20, 21 andi 293, 3101 and extends rearward from the rear frame of;A the. machine. l'dle-n shafts. (50, any de sired number, are. journaledi in. bearings on the conveyer frame 59.2 and said idlery shafts and the drum shaft 517' carry a belt conveyer 61,. The drum shafty 5.7' is geared te the power shaft 54 preferably by sprocket gears ing 62; The rear end porti-on or delivery end ofthe conveyer 61 is materially to the rear ofA the rear frame oit? the machine.

A beam 63 is fixed to and extends: hori Zontallyrearward from the interior posts 20.y and 29 and a standard is` fixed! toV and@ risesf from the beam at the rear ef the rear frame of the machine. A shaft is journaled bearings: the upper end of' thel standard 64,. and on the post 29; and: a drum 67 is fixed to said shaft. between said stand-4 ard' and post. A conveyer frame 65 is jonrnaledr at its. rear end on the shaft, 66, and extends approximatelyy horizontally across. the rear frame of the machine., A roller (i8r is, journaled to; and beneath the outer end of thev conveyer frame 65.y and is, adapted to; ride at times on the side of the box of' a vehicle: (not: shown). A yoke orA stirrupv 69 is` Hxed toi and risesV from the intermediatefportien of the conveyer frame a-nd a pulley block Z0 is` attached to the upperY end thereof.

A beam 'El' is bed tol and extends,` rear-- wardly frein the front'l and rear fram-es of thev machine` and supported on the upper ends of standards 72 carried by `sai-d frames. and is; further connected te. the frames by braces. 73:.V A pulleyr block 742. is. suspended freinthe rear end of the beam: 71. A cable- 75.; fixed at one-.end to. the block 74, isrove through, the pulley of' thet block Z0, is` roue through. the pulley' of the block Z4 and the opposite end of said cable isk lined tol and adapted to be wound on a. sli-aft" orl drum; 76a journaled on` thebeam: 25. The drum shaftv maybe rotated manually by a crank 17.

Idler shafts. 78 are mounted on the conveyer frame 65V any desired number and, together' with the drum 6%, carry a conveyer 79.-4 The; ldelivery end of the eenveyer 791 projects; laterally beyond' the: frames of` the beneath the inner end of the conveyer frame G5 and bearings. 82, 8.3 are slidlngly mounted thereon and are adjusted to and from the Standard G4 and post 29 by screws 84.

A shaft 85 is journaled in the bearings 82, 8.3. and a. tghtener drum 86 is mounted on said shaft and engages the returning por tion of the conveyer y (79, whereby said conveyer may be tightened on its drums. 1n the means for raising` and lowering the conveyer' frame 65 and devices. thereon, provisionis made fer adjusting the deliveryensds of the conveyer 79) in respect of the altitude of the velfiicle in which delivery is made. l

A countershaft 87 is arranged' atr right anglesy to the pew-er shaft 54 isY journaled in bearingsontliie front and rearfrafmes of the machine. A sprocket gearing- 88 con-e nects; the countershaft 87 to. the inner end portion oitV the drum shaft, 6b; A bevel gear 89 on the power vshaft 54 meshes: with a bevel gear 9.0 leosely mounted on the countershai't 87, and the latter gear is adapted toi be engaged by a clutch member 9'1 feath ered to the countershaft and arrangedl for v manual adjustment byv a lever- 92. Shafts 93, 94, 'A and 9.6i are journalied in bearings carried by corners of the front'y and rear frames of the machine and said shafts are parallel` with each otherl and with the coun-v e tershaft 87. Sprocket gearing 9.7 connects the. confntershaft 87 to. the shaft93. There edges thereof are perpendicular to. the surface ofthe ground over which the machine The chain 10,0; is4 constructed: of*

travels..

links 100a- (Fi-g.. 9)y parallel' with each otherv and spaced apart; 100b' parallel with each other' and spaced apart, endi portions ofI the links 100,11' overlying and mclosing end portions` of the links 100EL pivotal. pins 100,cv extending 'through the overlapping ends of the links, journaled as te. the links 100%l and riveted as to the links. 1069?", and'v bushings-.100d on said pinsbetween. the links` Y Thev cutters 101 are constructed of 100%. sheet metals', suchV as steel, and? are formed each with stem; 1'011 adapted to; be hel-,ted to the outermost, link 100V; a broad blade 1011" offset outwardly from the stem and having its greatest transverse' dimension atA right angles to. the stemf andl to the:- link 190b and a cutting edge 101@ on the forwardV margin mach-inev Brackets 80, 81 are fixed te` and l ofthe bladev 10.1.

In the rotation of the shafts 93, 94, 95 and 96 the wheels 99 are revolved and carry the chain 100 and cutters 101 in such manner that the cutters travel across the path of travel of the machine and cut slices from a perpendicular bank of earth 102 (Fig. 1). The length of the bank 102 of earth is approximately the width of the machine frame, and the height of such bank is apn proximately the vertical Width of the cutters and equal to the length of the 'cutting edges 101C. The thickness of the slice cut from the bank 102 is approximately the same as the degree of offset of the blade 101b relative to the stem 1011. The gearing is apportioned in such manner that the machine advances at the proper speed relative to the cutters. Suitable backing means 113, 114, may be provided to engage the chain 100 and hold the cutters 101 toward the bank 102.

Sprocket wheels 103, 104 are mounted rigidly in pairs on the shafts 93, 911, 95 and 96 between the front and rear frames or' the lnachine. Chains 105, 106 are mounted on and driven by the Wheels '103, 104 and buckets 107 are'tixed to and arranged between said chains. Each bucket 107 is constructed of sheet metal and comprises ends 107, a bottom 107b and a rear wall 107C. The front and top of the bucket are open. Rods 108 are mounted through the ends 10T and extend across the bucket parallel with the bottom and rear wall and end portions of said rods engage the sprocket wheels 103, 104 for the purpose of supporting and driving the chains. The rods 10S also extend through the links of the chains 105, 106 and provide pivotal connections between said links. A sheet metal plate 109 is fixed to the end and top of the machine frame and extends from a-point where the buckets 107 begin ascent to a point adjacent the initial margin of the conveyer 61. This plate 109 serves to retain earth in the buckets during ascending `travel and during horizontal travel along the top of the machine frame to the conveyer 61 andpermit deposit of the contents of such buckets upon said conveyer only. A sheet metal plate 110 is arranged beneath the buckets 107 on the top of the machine frame and extends from the opposite margin of the conveyer 61 from the plate 109 to the point of descent of the buckets, and prevents accidental deposit of adhering earth in the machinery beyond the conveyer. The conveyer 61 receives the earth from the buckets and delivers the same to the conveyer 79, which in turn delivers said earth to a vehicle (not shown). Brace arms 111 extend downward and inward from the beam 26 of the rear frame and a bar 112 is fixed to the lower ends of said arms and extends horizontally at the rear of the buckets. It is the function of the bar 112 `to engage the buckets during horizontal travel thereof beneath the machine :trame and hold the same forwardly toward the cutters, in order that said buckets may travel transversely of the path of advance and collect the cut earth.

The machine may be advanced any given and desired distance and cut and excavate to the full width of the machine. Then it' it is desired to make an excavation of greater width than the machine, said machine may be reversed or turned around and caused to return on a parallel path and excavate its full width or to any degree less than its full Width during its return travel, thus providing means for excavating one portion of a given width of cut or trench at one advance of the machine and then reversing the machine and excavating the remaining portion of the cut or t-rench during return travel.

I claim as my invention- 1. An earth excavating machine, comprising a Wheeled frame, means for advancing said frame, means for adjusting the altitude of the frame, cutting mechanism arranged for travel in an angular orbit on the front of said frame, said cutting mechanism arranged for travel `transversely of the path of advance of said frame and having the cutting blades thereof arranged lvertically during the operation of cutting, elevating mechanism at the rear of the cutting mechanism, and conveying mechanism leading from the elevating mechanism.

2. An earth excavating machine, comprising a Wheeled frame, means for advancing said frame, means for adjusting the altitude of said frame, cutting mechanism arranged for travel in an angular orbit on the front of the frame, said cutting mechanism arranged for travel transversely of the path of advance of said frame and having the cutting blades thereof arranged vertically during the operation of cutting, elevating mechanism at the rear of the cutting mechanism and independent thereof, conveyingl mechanism leading from the elevating mechanism, and driving mechanism common to the cutting, elevating and conveying mechanisms.

3. An earth excavating machine, comprising a wheeled frame, means for connecting said frame to draft devices, means for adjusting the altitude of said frame, cutting mechanism arranged for travel in an angular orbit on the front of the frame and arranged for travel transversely ot the path of advance of the machine, said cutting mechanism being located wholly in front oi the machine frame and composed of pivotally connected links and cutters carried by alternate links, said cutters formed with edges arranged vertically during the operation of cutting, elevating mechanism at the rear of the cutting mechanism and adapted to travel an orbit parallel thereto, conveyingl mechanism leading from the elevatiii-g mechanism, and means for driving said mechanisms- 4. An earth excavating machine, comprising' a wheeled frame, means for advancing said frame, means for adjusting the altitude of said frame, cutting mechanism on the front of the frame and arranged' for travel in an angular orbit, upper and lower portions of said cuttingl mechanism arranged to travel oppositely transversely of the path of advance of the machine, said cutting mechanism bei-ng located wholly in front of the machine frame and composed of pivotally connected links and' cutters carried by alternate links, said cutters formeel with edgesarranged vertically during the operation of cutting, elevating mechanism on the frame at the rear of the cutting mechanism and arranged to travel in an orbit parallel thereto and in lthe same direction as the cutting mechanism, conveying mechanismleading from the elevating mechanism, and means for driving said mechanisms.

An`l earth excavating mechanism, com-y pri-sing a frame, means for advancing said frame, cutting mechanismarranged for travel in an angular orbit, upper and lower portions of said cutting mechanism arranged to travel oppositely transversely of the path of advance of the frame, said cutting'mechanism being located wholly` ing front of the machine frame and composed of pivotally connected linksand cutters' carried by alternate links, said cutters formed' with edges arranged? vertically during the operation of cutting, elevating mechanismon the frame arranged for travel' -in an angular orbit parallel with a-nd to thev rear of the orbit of the cutting mechanism, a conveyer at right angles to the elevati-ng mechanism' and a conveyer at right angles. tc the iirst conveyer, together with means for vdriving said' mechanisms and? conveyers.

G. An earth excavatingmechanism, comr prising a frame, means for advancing said" frame, cutting mechanism on said frame andiV arranged for travel in an angular orbit, upper and lower portions of said cutting mechanism arranged to travel? oppositely transversely ofthe pathof advance of the frame, backing means engaging said cutting mechanism, said backing' means comprising' a roller bed at the rear of thel'ower transversely traveling portion of the' cutting ing theV lower transversely traveling portion ceasesy of the elevating mechanism, and conveyors leading from said elevating mechanism.

7. An earth excavating machine, comprising a frame, means for advancing the frame, cutting mechanism on said frame, elevating mechanism on said frame arranged for travel in a rectangular orbit, plates on i the ends and top of said frame adapted? for lsliding' engagement with the elevating mechanism, and conveying mechanism leading from said elevating mechanism, said plates spaced apart by and communicating with said conveying mechanism.

8. An earth excavating machine, comprising a frame, means for' advancing said frame, cutting mechanism on said frame ar-l and also provided'with cutters having their edges arranged vertically during the operation of cutting, elevating'mechanism on the frame parallel with and spaced from the cutting mechanism, a' conveyer at right angles to the elevating mechanism, a delivery ccnveyer at right angles to the first conveyer, means for oscillating the delivery conveyer, and means for driving said mechanisms and conveyers;

9; An earth excavating machine, comprising a fra-me, means for advancing saidv frame, cutting mechanism on said frame arranged for travel in an angular orbit, upper and' lower portions of said cutting mec anism arranged to tra-vel oppositely tra-nsversely of the path of advance of the frame, elevating mechanism' on the fra-me parallel' with andspaced fromthe cutting mechanism, backingmeans between the cutting' and elevating mechanisms andv3 adapted tobe engaged by' said cutting mechanism, back-ing' means on thev frame at the rearof and"A adapted to be engaged by 'the lower transversely traveling portion of the elevating mecha-- nism, a conveyer at right angles to the ele vat-ing mechanism and adapted4 tol receive' earth therefrom, a delivery conveyer at right angles to thev first conveyer, means for oscillating the delivery* conveyer, andt a rolleron thedelivery conveyer' adapted for Contact with a vehicle.

1'0. An earth excavating machine, comprising a frame, means for' advancing said frame, shafts mounted in said? frame parallel with the line of advance of the frame,

endless cutting mechanism mounted? onsaidl shafts in front of said? frame, endless bucketelevating mechanism on said shafts within said frame, a conveyer in said frame and'E arrangedvv for travel at righty angles to said elevating mechanism, said conveyer within the orbit of the elevating mechanism and arranged to receive earth therefrom, an adjustable delivery conveyer arranged at right angles to the first conveyer and in position to receive earth therefrom, and driving mechanism common to the mechanisms and conveyers.

11. An earth excavating machine, comrisino a frame an endless cuttinomechab 7 D nism arranged for orbital travel on said frame, arms on said frame, rollers on said arms at right angles to the path of travel of and arranged to engage the endless cutting mechanism, and elevating and conveying mechanisms on said frame.

12. An earth excavating machine, comprising a frame, cutting mechanism on said frame, endless elevating mechanism on said frame, arms on said frame, a bar on said arms arranged for sliding engagement with the elevating mechanism, and conveying mechanisms on said frame.

13. In an earth excavating machine, a cutting mechanism comprising pivotally connected links and cutters mounted on alternate links throughout the length of the chain, each cutter comprising a stem longitudinally of and fixed to a link and a blade offset into a plane parallel with the stem and formed with a cutting edge transversely of and of greater Width than said link.

14. In an earth excavating machine, a chain and cutters mounted thereon, said cutters each comprising a stem longitudinally of the chain and fixed thereto, a blade integral with an offset relative to said stem,

said blade of Greater width than the stem and crossing the plane of the chain, said blade formed with a cutting edge arranged perpendicular' to the trend of the chain.

l5. In an excavating machine, supporting wheels, an axle therein, arms journaled to and rising from said axle, pairs of bars journaled at their rear ends to said arms, a frame between said pairs of bars, the forward ends of said bars pivoted to the forward portion of the frame, adjusting mechanism connecting the rear portion of the frame to the upper ends of said arms, a tongue on said frame, and cutting, elevating and conveying mechanisms on said frame.

16. In an excavating machine, a rectangular upright frame, four shafts mounted for rotation and extending transversely of corner portions of said frame, endless conveying mechanism mounted on said shafts between the front and rear vertical planes of said frame, and endless cutting mechanism mounted on said four shafts in front of thc front plane of said frame, whereby said endless cutting mechanism is adapted for travel through an angular orbit, the cutters of said mechanism having edges arranged vertically during the operation of cutting.

Signed by me at Des Moines, Iowa, this 13th day of May, 1908.

JOHN H. LUETI-IJE.

Witnesses:

S. C. SWEET, W. W. FINK.

lGopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

